THE NEXT DAY...
Sumire wakes up in the unfamiliar room. Eyes barely open, she firmly closed her eyes when a streak of pain crawled in her head. She woke up with a raging, terrible hangover.
Sumire rose from the bed, yawned, and stretched every muscle of her body. She scan the place and she could tell, she was in a master suite. The suite exudes elegance and ostentatiousness. She noticed the brilliant combination of dark and bright textures which, in fact, the touch of luxury defined the overall interior design in the bedroom suite, creating such an elegant modern atmosphere. She was sleeping in a massive master bedroom.
"Where am I?" Sumire asked herself and got out of bed, barefooted. She looked at herself in a human-size mirror and was shocked to see herself in a white large size long sleeve that reached to her knees. She peeks inside and found out she wore a fitted boxer short that hugged her well-rounded buttocks.
"Who the hell dresses me?" Sumire frowned. When she saw her phone under the lampshade of the table, Sumire rushed and took it. Eiryss might call her worried sick, but unfortunately, she was out of battery.
Sumire strides over the place before she came out of the room. She found herself in a castle-like home where a red-carpeted hallway with traditional lampshades lined up on the wall and the huge painting of Death hanging at the end of the hallway greeted her. "Oh my dear god ...", awestruck, Sumire squeals deep inside her.
Sumire sashayed down the red hallway towards the painting unaware of the presence of a large and ferocious animal following her behind. A sleek, proud phantom wild cat, eyes glow menacingly in emerald green. Looking fierce but beautiful, its dark coat helps this feral beast blend in at night.
The maiden stopped in front of the painting and look up. Somehow she felt safe and sound after seeing the painting. Sumire knew there were only two people who could possess such expensive paintings in the world, and she had a person in mind. Sumire now knows where in the world she could possibly be.
Sumire dramatically clutched her chest as the ferocious animal sat down beside her. The maiden was still unaware of its presence.
"This painting never fails to amaze me," Sumire murmured to herself and the beast next to her slightly nodded as if agreeing with her.
"I wish I could see Death sooner." She wished and suddenly, a menacing low growl from a beast next to her almost made Sumire's heart hammered out of her chest. She stood frozen for a moment on her feet.
Sumire's body stiffened and control her breathing. Dilated pupils, her eyes slowly moved to the right side and there she meet the pair of glowing emerald green eyes of a black panther which also meets hers. "I think my wish is granted. I never thought I would actually meet Death today ..." Sumire said in a trembling voice and laugh half-heartedly while having a staring contest at the panther.
Suddenly, the panther displayed a pair of shiny, sharp, canine fangs which made Sumire flinch. Her chest quivered in nervousness. "Your eyes remind me of someone I know, beasty." Muttered the maiden. After a long blinking contest with the panther, Sumire unconsciously reaches her hand to the feral beast's head. "Good boy...good...boy..."
Before Sumire's palm landed on the panther's head, the wild cat suddenly licked her hand. Its snout reaches and adorably rubbed its head against her palm. Sumire was stunned at her place and let the panther do what it wants. She patted gently the top of its head, unaware of the peril the beast might bring to her.
When Sumire couldn't hold herself back anymore, she kneeled and buried her face against the beast's neck and rub herself on its fluffy black fur. She hugged it like a teddy bear. "This is awesome!" She uttered happily.
The panther raised its right paw on her shoulder and bowed its head once gently burying its pair of fangs on her head which made Sumire suddenly tremble. 'Death, I'm really coming over.'
After a short playing and petting the black beast in the hallway, she unexpectedly had a bond with the panther. Sumire descended from the second floor of the colossal palace-like manor along the panther walked beside her.
She stares down at it.
"Where is your owner, beasty?" The maiden asked. The beast rubbed its head on the long sleeve she wears which Sumire smiled at. It is as if the panther understood her question. When they finally down to the first floor, a dark, mysterious, and luxurious living room appeared to her.
The living room has a gorgeous black and golden decor - some feature simple black accents. The curtain shimmer in gold, luxurious touches of shiny brass lamps, fabulous golden chandelier emanates class and indulgence. Dark sophistication mostly reigned in the place. It emanates confidence, poise, and authority. A richly embellished wall, comfortable luxe velvet sofa bring in an air of exotic opulence. It looks elegant and timeless.
Sumire can't help but awe at the stunning view. "Wow, this place looks more striking than mine," she praises and flashes a beautiful smile.
The maiden had a short tour of the living room before going to the kitchen area, Sumire quickly found Klauss cooking, holding a golden kitchen slotted turner, wearing an apron and toque Blanche. Three young unfamiliar men whom Sumire thought were just the same age, helping Klauss to cut spices.
On the right side of the corner, a gorgeous hunk appeared to her. She secretly studied his strong and raw physique. He was in a black, tight-fitting T-shirt and she could see his pectorals bulging. Her eyes lowered down and there she saw that huge bulge. She gulped. He is sipping a coffee with a newspaper in his hand, reading.
'Damn, he is so sexy!' Sumire swipe off the drool escaping from her lips and bit her lower lip at the yummy raw view. She was almost melted! She had completely forgotten her anger towards the hunk.
But Klauss's loud yelling at the three youngsters who disturbed his cooking caught her attention.
"Stop torturing the damn carrots, Narco!" Klauss angrily hissed to the tanned man. A blonde-haired man around his age quickly comes to rescue Narco.
"It's embarrassing to see this awful masterpiece to our beautiful guest," the young man who have a pair of galaxy blue eyes said when he saw the different shapes Narco did at chopping the carrots.
"That's not how you do it, Narco," he said as he started chopping the carrots in squares. It looks more terrible!
Leroy grinned as he handed the squared carrots to Narco and flashed a genuine smile. "This is how you chop a carrot."
"Old man, I finished slicing the spices. There you go." Lyric, on the other hand, impolitely said once innocently handing over to Klauss the different kinds of spices mixed together in the same bowl. He even had a tear in the side of his eye.
His mouth is set in a firm line. Klauss shot them a warning look. He was at the peak of his annoyance looking at the three chimpanzees messing up his cooking ingredients. They can never be reliable in kitchen work.
"If you three don't stop wasting the spices, you'll be the ones I'll cook alive in the pan!" Klauss yelled.
While they were busy inside the kitchen, none of them had sawed the presence of the maiden at the entrance. It was then when Sumire's belly suddenly rumbled, and the men inside the kitchen looked in her direction.
"Oh, she's alive!" Lyric said that he still handed over the bowl of spices which Klauss did not accept.
"The beast didn't devour her." Leroy seconded while holding a knife.
"The one who has a mutual understanding with Klauss," Narco smirked that Klauss couldn't bare his annoyance anymore. With the slotted turner in his hand, Klauss hit Narco in the head. The young tanned guy pouted his lips and stomped his feet. He starts chopping the carrots even more awful than it looks.
She entered the kitchen with her disheveled appearance. Three buttons of the long sleeve open, slightly revealing her chest. Hair was messily arranged and traces of panther's black fur were left on her face and clothes that at first glance she looked like she had survived from the panther's deadly assault.
"Cerby," Mort commands the beast. The panther instinctively turns to her back and gently pushes the maiden using its snout towards Mort.
Mort rose from his seat and put down the newspaper he was holding. He quickly catches Sumire when the panther suddenly pushes her hard towards him. He closed the open buttons of her long sleeve and messes more of her hair.
Mort took something out of the refrigerator for a hang-over and handed it to her.
"Drink this," Mort said. Sumire accepted and drank it in one gulp.
"How did I get in here?" Sumire asked, eyes perusing the place. The kitchen was polished with black marble floors with chevron-shaped tiles that reflect light around the vast, open-plan space. Boasting a white marble-topped island-cum-bar, glossy floor-to-ceiling units, and illuminated display cabinets. She was dazzled by the view!
"By the car." Mort bluntly replied.
"But how? I don't remember seeing you last night." The maiden turned her gaze back to Mort.
"I called and you asked me to fetch you." Mort lied, and the fact that something almost happened between the two of them at Paradisò hotel. He hid that memory behind his lips.
"But I don't recall any of that," Sumire said and slightly rub the head when it suddenly throbbed.
"That's not a big deal. The important thing is you're safe." Mort said making her frown. She looks up at the giant hunk in front of her with one eyebrow raised.
"Everything is a big deal when you are involved." Sumire slightly raised her voice making Mort stop. The three little nasty chimpanzees were watching them.
"You're not on the front camera for the drama scene," Narco said once drinking water and start eating a banana. Sumire's frowned face turned in his direction.
"Who are you?" The maiden asked, eyebrows raised. "And what do you know?" Sumire added.
"I didn't know anything but I know you and Klauss have a deep, strong connection with one another." Narco immediately answered her question and meaningfully grinned.
Klauss's pair of blue eyes had pierced the young tanned guy. The silver-haired clean-freak demon was standing menacingly behind Narco with the slotted turner raised again and was about to strike him back in the head.
Even before Klauss' assault could hit Narco, the young man quickly ran behind Mort and hid in there.
"Wait, is she the rumored lucky girl?" Leroy asked with a glint of surprise on his face. He left Klauss's place and approached his twin brother.
"So, she's the woman who made Mr. Michaelis' heart fall for her too deep and too hard." Lyric seconded and cross his hand over his chest while fixing his eyeglass up.
"Is Mr. Klauss really your ideal mate, beautiful lady?" Leroy innocently asked but a hint of positive playfulness can be heard in his tone.
Sumire's mood was ruined by what she heard first thing in the morning. Like Klauss, a boiling fury swelled inside of her and she has no idea where the hell these twins got those nonsensical things.
She screams piercingly. "aaaAAHHH! He is not my type and will never be! I am madly in love with this guy!" Sumire declared and directly pointed at the specific hunk in the room.
Mort smirked in his mind.
"Ooh," the three teased with their mouths formed in an O-shape and together they applauded.
A buzz of whispers lingers in the air.
"How sweet!” Leroy said, still applauding, and nodded one after another.
“How eloquent!" Lyric quickly seconded.
"But I am gay and I already have a son," Mort said wearing his famous stoic face.
"Who cares about that," Sumire replied.
"Ooh," the three oohed again. This time, they were sitting in chairs, wearing sunglasses and chewing popcorn.
"Who-" Sumire was interrupted by a sudden cutely grumbling sound of her tummy that didn't escape from Mort's keen hearing. The maiden blushed and quickly clutch her stomach.
"You can resume the drama later. We're going to eat." Klauss called their attention making the three rascals frown and pouted childishly.
"What a party-pooper," Narco complained, and together, the three of them went to the table and seated. Mort and Sumire followed after them.
Sumire noticed the massive bar-height stools. Obviously, she’s the dwarf one inside the place surrounded by giants. Mort took another high-end chair. He lifted the maiden by the waist and make her sit.
Sumire faced Mort down, "I wanna go home." He meets her gaze and then sits close to her.
"You should eat first," Mort said, not minding the gossipers seated opposite, listening to them.
"How can I eat that thing?"
Sumire pointed at the poor vegetables that the three brats had successfully tortured earlier. She could no longer identify their names as they were slaughtered awfully.
"Don't you eat vegetables?" Klauss asked, secretly rolling his eyes at the maiden. 'What a choosy Pieris rapae! We've served her with great hospitality yet she had the nerve to complain, tss...' Klauss murmured in his mind as he pour a pesticide mercilessly on the worm he imagined would be Sumire.
"Does it looks like a vegetable to you? It looks like a swine meal." Sumire sarcastically said that Klauss tightened his grip on the spoon he was holding.
"What do you want to eat? Let's order." Mort asked her and took out his phone.
"Wow, that's a pure insult to our hard work." Narco suddenly butts in who is hesitant to eat the horrendous result of their effort. So did the twins, Lyric and Leroy, who had a second thought about eating the meal. Their faces awfully twitch at the sight of the food Klauss serves to them.
"Don't be choosy. Even though it looks bad, it's edible." Klauss rolled his eyes, he was referring solely to the maiden. But Sumire ignored him and turned to Mort.
"I want chicken," she said and Mort nodded. The man quickly dialed a five-star chef and ordered food.
"I want all of your chicken dishes. Pronto."
While the maiden was at Mort's grand manor, her manager Eiryss was disturbed by a call early in the morning about the news that her lovely Sumire was gone missing.
"Who abducts her?"